The International Travel Expo HCM City 2012 ( ITE HCM City ) will be held from September 13-15 with the participation of 500 local and foreign companies from 30 countries and territories.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has organised the event in partnership with the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam Trade Fair&Advertising Joint-Stock Company and IIR Exhibitions.

The expo, whose theme is Four Countries-One Destination, will take place at the Sai Gon Exhibition and Convention Center in district 7.

Participants include professionals in the travel, aviation, hotel and travel services.

The expo is expected to attract 200 international customers from major markets such as Australia, Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America .

Unlike previous expos, ITE HCM City 2012 will focus on both inbound and outbound tourism in the sub-Mekong region.

The expo will include cultural activities to promote tourism, including Cambodia Night, Laos Night and art performances from Malaysia.

One of the main activities is the first ministerial conference between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. It will discuss an informal agreement about tourism promotion between the countries' tourism ministers.

The International Hosted Buyer Programme aims to attract over 200 key global buyers from major markets that include ASEAN countries as well as Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the RoK, the US, Canada, Russia and the UAE.-VNA